Latch mechanism



Nov. 30 1.926. I 1,609,175

J. LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH LEO INKA.

Nrr/vsssk' BY Nov. 30 1926.

\ J LEDWINKA LATCH MECHANISM Filed June 30, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

JOSEPH LE0 INKA a TORN Y Patented Nov. 30, 1926.

UNITED STATES JOSEPH LEDWINKA, OF PHILADELPHIA, IP BUDD MANUFACTURING COMPANY. OF

POBATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

ENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR 'IO EDWARD G. PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, A COB- LATCH MECHANISM.

Application filed June 30. 1923. Serial No. 648,681.

This invention relates to improvements in latch mechanism and has to do, more particularly, with latch mechanism adapted for use with doors of automobile bodies.

The principal object of my present invention is to provide improved means 'for actuating a latch mechanism from a point near the upper edge of the door so that, for instance, the pull handle used for closin the door may also be used for actuating the atch mechanism in opening the door.

A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for tensioning the operating handle or latch actuating mechanism which are entirely independent of the usual tensioningmeans acting to project the bolt.

Further objects, and objects relating to details and economies of construction and operation, will definitely appear from the detailed description to follow. In one instance, I- accomplish the objects of my in vention by the devices and means set forth in the following specification. My invention is clearly defined and pointed out in the appended claims. A structure constituting a preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of my improved latch mechanism, applied to an automobile door, portions of the door being indicated by dot and dash lines.

Fig. 2 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 22 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a transverse, sectional view, taken on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings, the same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the several views and the sectional views are taken looking in the direction of the arrows at the ends of the section lines.

' This invention is an improvement upon the latchinechanisn'is illustrated, described and-claimed in my copending applications for latch mechanism, Serial Nos. 496,042 and 533,847, filed'August 27, 1921, and February 3, 1922, respectively, and thelatch mechanism forming the subject of the present specification embodies anumber of the features disclosed and claimed in said pending applications.

It is usually desirable to mount the latch mechanism about midway between the top and bottom edges of the door, in order to secure the best result and maintain the door closed under the various stresses and strains to which it is subjected in use. On the other hand, it is desirable to actuate the latch mechanism to retract the bolt by means of a handle located near the upper edge of the door, so that it may be conveniently grasped by the operator. In many cases it is desirable to use the same handle as a pull-han- '5 dle for use in closing the door and an operating handle for actuating the mechanism to retract the bolt should be located near the upper edge of the door. I have provided very simple means suitable for use in connection with latch mechanism of the type illustrated in my pending applications, above referred to, for actuating the latch mechanism from a handle located near the upper ed e of the door. The actuating handle may e fixed to a stud suitably Journaled in the door, near the upper edge thereof, and which may have fixed to it a lever arm connected by a link with another lever arm which may be fixed on the roll-back spindle, by means of which the roll-back may be rocked, in one direction or the other, to retract the latch bolt. It is desirable to provide means for tensioning this actuating mechanism which is quite independent of the usual spring acting to pro- I ject the bolt, so that such actuating mechanism will be automatically, restored to normal position when the hand of the operator is removed from the operating handle. I may accomplish this tensioning of the actuating mechanism by means of a member or plate fixed to rotate with the roll-back spindle and acting upon a spring-pressed plunger which is slidably mounted and pressed by its spring toward the roll-back spindle.

Referring to the numbered parts of the and such a pull-handle accompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated a latch mechanism constitut ng one embodiment of my invention and in which the parts of the door are indicated by dotted lines, it will be seen that the latch mechanism is mounted u on the door frame, 10, and concealed by t e door panel, 11, which is applied to said frame. The latch plate, 12, has a laterally-extending flange, 13, at one edge thereof, in which there is an opening to permit the passage of the swinging latch bolt, 14. This latch bolt, 14, is pivotally mounted on the latch plate, at 15, swings through the opening in the flange, 13, and is provided with a curved end wall, 16, substantially concentric with the pivotal axis of the latch bolt, and with a recess in the rear face of the latch bolt, as indicated at 17. The follower, 19, is slidably mounted on the latch plate, 12, the forward end, 20, of said follower being offset away from the latch plate and having a notch, 21, which engages the pin, 18, extending across the recess, 17, of the latch bolt. The body portion of the follower, 19, is spaced from the latch plate, 12, but it has a lug, 22, which slides in a slot, 23, formed-in the latch plate, so as to guide the follower in its straightline movement. The body portion of the follower, 19, is considerably wider than the part, 20, thereof, and is provided with an opening, 24, through which the roll-back, 25, extends. The roll-back, 25, is journaled, at 26, in the base plate, 12, and, at 27, in a bridge, 28, which is secured to the latch plate and extends over the roll-back and the follower, 'as shown-in Figs. 1 and 3. The roll back, 25, is provided with ears which engage suitable shoulders on the follower, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 and as shown in my copending applications, above,

referred to. A spring, 29, secured to a post, 30, carried by the latch plate, engages the rear end of the follower and yieldingly presses it toward the flange, 13, so as to project the swinging latch bolt," 14, through the opening in said flange. The latch construction which I have just described, is substantially that shown in my said copending applications, Serial Nos. 496,042 and 533,847.

The roll-back, 25, has an actuating spindle 31, which is preferably square in cross section and fits in a corresponding bore in the roll-back. A triangular plate, 32, has a s uare o ening, 33, through which the rollbac spin le, 31, extends. A spring pressed lunger, having a head, 35, and a stem, 36, 1s slidably mounted on the latch plate, the stem 36, being guided in a bracket, 37, fastened to the latch plate, 12. A spring, 38, is interposed, around the stem, 36, between said bracket, 37, and the head of the springpressed plunger. A groove, 34, is formed in the head, 35 of this plunger and this groove receives th e base edge of the triangu-" lar plate, 32, which is fixed to rotate with the roll-back-spindle, 31.

A lever arm, 39, has a hub, 40, provided with a square opening to fit the roll-back spindle, 31, and split, at 41, so that it may be clamped on the roll-back spindle by tightening the bolt, 43. The outer end of this lever arm is forked, at 44, and connected by the pin, 47, to the lower end of the connecting link, 46. The upper end of said con-' necting link, 46, is connected, by the pin, 48, to the forked end, 49, of another lever arm, 50, which is fastened to the stud shaft to which the handle is connected. This stud shafthas a cylindrical portion, 56, journaled in a bushing, 57, carried in the frame, 10, of the door. The inner end, 55, of this shaft is squared and fits in a square opening, 52, formed in the boss, 51, at the inner end of the lever arm, 50. This boss is split, at 53, so that it may be clamped on the square portion, 55, of the stud shaft, by tightening up on the bolt, 54. The outer end of the stud shaft has an annular shoulder 58, which engages the outer end of the bushing, 57, and a washer, 59, fits on the outer end of the stud shaft and against the outer surface of said annular shoulder. The handle, 60, has a boss, 62, at its innerend, which fits against the end of the shaft and the washer, 59, and is secured thereto by the screw, 61, which screws into the end of the stud shaft and fastens the handle rigidly thereto. This handlejs curved, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so that it serves as a pull handle, for use in closing the door, as well as for rotating the roll-back to retract the latch.

It will be seen that the latch plate and the mechanism carried thereby may be located midway between the top and bottom edges of the door, so as to be in the best position for keeping the door closed tightly under the stresses and strains set up in use. The handle, 60, however, may be located near the upper edge of the door, so as to be conveniently grasped by the operator. By means of this handle, 60, the stud shaft, 56, may be rotated and this motion is transmitted to theroll-hack spindle, 31, through the lever arm, 50, link, 46, and lever arm, 39; In this way, the roll back, 25, may be rotated to retract the latch bolt. Thespring, 29, acts on the follower and normally projects the latch bolt. The roll-back and the actuating connections therefor are held, under tension, in normal position and are returned to normal position after they have been moved therefrom by the spring pressure device, consisting of the plate, 32, fixed to the spindle, 31, and the s ring-pressed plunger, 35, which engages the ase edge of said plate. It will be noted that, as the spindle,'31, is rotated, in either direction from the normal position shown in Fig. 1, the plunger, 35, is forced 'rearwardly, against the pressure of the spring, 38, and, when the force tending to rotate the roll-back spindle is-removed, the spring, 38, will at once restore the parts to their normal position.

I am aware that the embodiment of my invention illustrated in the accompanying drawings may be changed considerably without departing from the spirit of my invention and, therefore, I claim my invention broadly, as indicated by the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and useful and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said latch bolt, a roll-back spindle for rotating the rollback, an arm fixed to said spindle, a suitably journaled handle, and connections between said handle and said arm.

2. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said bolt, an arm fixed to rotate with said roll-back, a suitably journaled stud shaft, an operating handle secured thereto, an arm fastened to said stud shaft, and a link connecting said arm with the arm fixed to the roll-back.

3. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said bolt, a

spindle for rotating said rollback, a suitably journaled stud shaft, an operating handle fastened thereto, arms secured to said stud shaft and spindle, respectively, and a link connecting said arms.

4. A latch mechanism comprising a swinging latch bolt a sliding follower connected to said latch bolt, a rotatable roll-back engageable with said follower to retract the latch bolt, a s indle for actuating said rollback, an'arm Exed to said spindle, a suitably 'ournaled operating handle, and connections etween said handle and said arm.

5. A latch mechanism comprising a swinging latch bolt, a sliding follower connected to said latch bolt, a rotatable roll-back engageable with said follower for retracting the bolt, a rotatably-mounted pull-handle, and connections between said handle and said roll-back for rotating the latter.

6. The combination with an automobile door, of a pull-handle rotatably mounted near the upper edge of the door, a latch bolt mounted centrally of the free edge of the door, said latch bolt, and connections between said rotatable pull-handle and said roll-back for actuating the latter.

7. A'latch mechanism comprising a latch litlt a follower connected to said latch bolt, a roll-back for retractin said bolt, spring means acting on said fo lower for projecting said bolt, a member connected to rotate with the roll-back, and spring means acting on said member to restore the roll-back and actuating connections to normal position.

a rotatable roll-back'for retracting b 8. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a follower connected to said latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said bolt, means for actuating said roll-back including a rollback spindle, spring means acting upon said follower to project the bolt, a member connected to rotate, with said roll-back spindle, and spring means acting on said member to restore the roll-back and actuating connections to normal position.

9. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said latch bolt, means for actuatin said roll-back including a roll-back spin le, a member fixed to rotate with said spindle, anda springp-resse'd. plunger contacting with one edge of said member.

10. A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a rollback for retracting said bolt,

means for actuating said a roll-back spindle, to rotate with said spindle, pressed plunger contacting edge of said plate.

11... A latch mechanism comprising a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said bolt, means for actuating said roll-back including a roll-back spindle, a triangular plate mounted to rotate with said spindle, and a spring-pressed plunger having a slidably mounted stem and a head provided with a groove, the base edge of said plate fitting in the groove of said head.

12. A latch mechanism comprising a latch plate, a latch bolt mounted thereon, a rotatable roll-back for'retracting said bolt, arollback spindle, a triangular plate fixed to rotate with said spindle, a bracket mounted on said latch plate, a plunger havin a stem slidably mounted in said-bracket an a head provided with a "groove receiving the base edge of said plate, and a spring lnterposed between the bracket and the head of said plunger.

* 13. A latch mechanism comprisin a latch bolt, a roll-back for retracting said bolt, a spindle for rotating said roll-back, a rotatable stud shaft, a handle secured to said shaft, operating connections between said stud shaft and said'spindle, a member fixed to rotate with said spindle, and a springpressed plunger contacting with said memer to restore the roll-back and actuating connections to normal position.

14. A. latch mechanism comprising a swinging latch bolt, a slidably mounted follower connected to said latch bolt, a rotatable roll-back engageable with said follower roll-back including with the base for retracting said bolt, a spindle for rotata triangular plate fixed and a springswinging latch bolt, a slidin follower connected thereto, a rotatable r0 Lback engageable with said follower to retract the latch bolt, a spindle for rotating said roll-back a 5 rotatable stud shaft, an operating handle secured thereto, connections between said stud shaft and said spindle, a triangular plate mounted to rotate with said spindle, and a spring-pressed plunger contacting with the base edge of said plate to restore the roll-back and actuating connections to normal position.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

JOSEPH LEDWINKA. 

